Charles Tzer-Chuan Lei | 雷澤川

Charles Tzer‑Chuan Lei, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and steadfast protector of his family, passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born in 1936 on the island of Gulangyu in the Fujian province of China, Charles' childhood was deeply influenced by the upheavals of pre‑ and post‑World War II Asia. As the eldest child of six, he lived a life shaped by familial duty, principle, and fair‑mindedness. Those formative years, which included his family’s move from China to Taiwan, instilled in him a lifelong sense of accountability and resolve.

In both his professional and personal life, Charles was a dedicated and accomplished leader. During his years in Taiwan, he rose through the ranks to become Vice President and Managing Supervisor of the Young Brothers Enterprises glass container manufacturing plant in Taipei, often proudly noting that it was the first facility to bottle Coca‑Cola in the country. He remained at that company for 25 years. It was also during this period of his life that Charles was married to Norah, with whom he had two sons and a daughter in 14 years of marriage.

In 1976, Charles made the life‑defining decision to immigrate along with the Lei family to the United States, specifically the Los Angeles area where his siblings and parents had settled. Like many immigrants of his generation, he left behind a home, a career, and decades of memories in pursuit of opportunity and a better future for himself, and especially his children.

His entrepreneurial spirit shined throughout his years in America. His work spanned many ventures, including wood furniture distributor, fish-and-chips restaurateur, liquor store owner, motel owner and, finally, real estate broker, the job he maintained until his retirement. It was in the United States that he wed his second wife and lifelong love Cindy, with whom he shared more than 47 years of marriage and another son.

Music was a central theme of Charles' life. He loved classical music, opera, choir, musical theater, and the performing arts. For 20 years, he was a member of the Melodia Sinica Chorale, one of the most successful Chinese-language choirs in the San Fernando Valley. Charles served as Melodia Sinica's president for many years and oversaw the group's cultural exchange tours in Taiwan, Canada, China, and many others, as well as a memorable performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

To those who met him later in life, Charles was remembered for his genial presence, his smile, and gentle humor. He greeted everyone with courtesy and his warmth was especially evident in the way he doted on his grandchildren and his many attempts to capture the perfect photograph of them.

In retirement, Charles especially cherished traveling the world with Cindy. A lifelong enthusiast of photography and technology, he was known on family trips to quietly disappear, then reappear moments later on high-up balconies or other random viewpoints where he could capture photos from thoughtful and unexpected perspectives—reflecting both his curiosity and his deep affection for those around him. He had a particular fondness for landscape photography (all of the landscape and wildlife photos shared on this page are his).

Charles is survived by Cindy; his children Norman, Nelson, Joy and Owen; his grandchildren Malcolm, Jacob, Noah, Megan, Ava, and Caleb; his brothers Paul, Ben, and Sam; and his sisters Anne and Helen, all of whom were profoundly shaped by his love, guidance, and steadfast presence. He was preceded in death by his mother Alice and father Lancelot. He resided in Pasadena, California, at the time of his passing.

A celebration of Charles' life will be held on March 3 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. We are providing a livestream of the ceremony for our many loved ones and dear friends in Southern California and around the world who may not be able to make the ceremony. Details and video link are below.

Funeral Service of Charles Tzer-Chuan Lei
March 3, 2026 | Livestream begins at 2:20 p.m. Pacific, service begins at 2:30 p.m. Pacific
View the livestream by clicking here: https://streaming.forestlawn.com/966e552e?&pwd=TGVp